Rapid diagnosis of mosquito-borne diseases

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, beyond malaria and the West Nile virus, are increasingly becoming a topic of concern in Europe. Due to rising temperatures caused by climate change and increasing globalization, the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), originally from Asia, has become endemic in Europe. Its name derives from the distinctive black and white stripes on its body, and it transmits the dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses.

Dengue Virus:
The dengue virus is transmitted by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus and is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. It causes flu-like symptoms that can appear suddenly and, in severe cases, develop into hemorrhagic fever (internal bleeding). Dengue is a serious health risk and can be life-threatening in some cases.

Zika Virus:
The Zika virus is also transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and has gained significant attention in recent years. It is known for its potential link to congenital abnormalities in babies (microcephaly) if pregnant women are infected. In adults, Zika usually causes mild symptoms such as fever, rash, and joint pain.

Chikungunya Virus:
The chikungunya virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes to humans and is prevalent in similar geographic regions as dengue and Zika. Symptoms resemble dengue fever and include high fever, severe joint pain, and rash. Joint pain can sometimes persist for an extended period.

West Nile Virus:
The West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and primarily affects birds but can also infect humans and other animals. In most cases, it causes mild symptoms or remains asymptomatic. However, in rare instances, it can lead to severe neurological diseases such as encephalitis or meningitis, particularly in older or pre-existing conditions. There is no antiviral therapy; affected individuals are treated symptomatically.

Malaria:
Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria parasites attack the liver and red blood cells, leading to severe fever, chills, anemia, and even death. Malaria is widespread in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America.

All these diseases are of great importance to public health and require both preventive measures and appropriate treatments to curb their spread and minimize health impacts on populations. Rapid and targeted diagnosis plays a key role in achieving this!

SZABO-SCANDIC offers RT-PCR kits from Clonit for detecting and partially differentiating mosquito-borne diseases:

Further Interesting Articles

Asian Tiger Mosquito Established in Austria | Gesundheitsportal
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is a potential carrier of over 20 pathogens, including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Although these diseases are not yet present in Austria, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considers the introduction of the chikungunya virus to Europe highly likely. Monitoring programs like ovitraps are conducted to track the spread of these mosquitoes 1.
New Diseases from the Asian Tiger Mosquito - Wiener Bezirksblatt
The Asian tiger mosquito has been present in Austria for over a decade and is now found in all federal states. It poses a risk of introducing tropical diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, which cannot be transmitted by native mosquito species 2 3.
Information on Mosquitoes & Biting Insects - AGES
AGES monitors invasive mosquito species across Austria using tools like the "Mosquito Alert" app. This initiative helps track the spread of tiger mosquitoes and provides guidance on preventing their breeding by eliminating small water sources 4 6.